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"I'm feeling 100%": Usman Khawaja ahead of third Ashes Test

Saturday, 13-Dec-2025, 08:42 AM
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Australian opener Usman Khawaja has confirmed he is fully fit and ready to return to action ahead of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, following his absence from the second Test in Brisbane due to injury. Khawaja expressed confidence in his physical condition; however, he acknowledged that his inclusion in the playing XI is no longer solely within his control.

"Obviously hope to play. I don't really know. Obviously, it's not my decision. The older I've got, the more comfortable I've got with things I can control. And I feel really good in terms of I'm ready to go. The rest of it is not in my control. So we'll see what happens," Khawaja said while speaking to reporters.

"I'm feeling 100%. So unless something else [happens], but I felt 100% before Perth, too. It's just one of those things. I've done everything. That's why I was training all last week. I was just doing rehab, which sucks because when you get injured, you have to do more, right."

"I've had a fair bit of load, but it's obviously what I wanted to just get as much as possible, and I'm running at 100% again and again. So everything's feeling pretty good again."

The Australian opener, meanwhile, maintained that he remains clear-headed and resolute and is not fazed by calls to retire from Test cricket.

“It doesn’t really faze me. As much as people sometimes want to have a crack at me, I love playing for Australia. I’m still very committed; still, every game I take the same way as I took 10 years ago, train hard, do everything right."

“For me, it’s irrelevant and more about being a professional. People can have opinions; absolutely no worries to me, but I can’t really sit down and worry what other people think – especially outside of the squad and the people I care about."

“I could’ve retired two years ago, I could’ve retired at any time. But [I’m] still valued by the team, still asked to be here to play, so I’m here.”

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